Bus cuts ‘will hit most vulnerable’

More than 70 of Hampshire’s bus routes will either be reduced or withdrawn under plans to slash funding for unprofitable services by £2.2m.

The county’s rural, evening and Sunday services would be most hard-hit under the proposals, sparking fears that the most vulnerable will be cut off from society.

One bus company, Wilts & Dorset, says it will have to “look closely at its future” in the New Forest after admitting few of its routes will be sustainable without subsidies.

Dozens of routes through Eastleigh, Winchester, Fareham, Romsey and Gosport also face a shake-up or withdrawal altogether.

It comes as Hampshire County Council looks to cut the subsidy given to commercial bus operators as part of plans to save £55m this year.

A Government rural bus subsidy has also been reduced by £544,000 – equal to a 33 per cent cut.

Transport bosses have promised no communities with existing services will be left stranded with “taxi-share” schemes proposed for remote areas.

But Chris Perry, from Age Concern Hampshire, said any reduction in service would hit disadvantaged people.

He said: “This could end up with increases in social isolation, extra costs for the NHS and reductions in the quality of life for older people. I think central government has to have a rethink on its policies.”

Steve Morris, from Bus Users UK, added: “I think local authorities need to look very carefully at their priorities. Very often the people who make these decisions are not the ones who are dependent on the bus services.”

Councillor Mel Kendal, executive member for the environment, has said essential journeys to work, shops and health services are still a priority, but that some of the off-peak routes will therefore have to be withdrawn.

Ed Wills, divisional director from Wilts & Dorset, said the company may have “no choice”

but to cut services.

He added: “The cuts could force many people to return to car travel. This does not sit well with the need to reduce pollution.”

Two other key bus providers, Bluestar and Stagecoach, say they want to minimise the impact on passengers, adding that the majority of their journeys will be unaffected.

Cllr Kendal is expected to approve the bus subsidy plan on Wednesday.

Romsey, Totton and Waterside

30 Romsey to Halterworth. Revised timetable, reduced from six days to five days.
34 Romsey-Whaddon-Salisbury (Mon-Fri). Reduced to scholars and shoppers service.
35 Romsey-Braishfield. Reduced from six days to five. 65/616 North Baddesley – the Mountbatten School. Withdrawn owing to poor value (subsidy £3.75 per passenger trip).
32/33 Romsey-Woodley. Revised timetable. Two buses an hour from three.
8 Southampton-Marchwood-Hythe. Withdraw Sunday daytime service. Average six passengers per trip.
9 Netley View-Blackfield, Heather Road. Withdraw, low use.
10-11 West Totton-Cadnam. Reduced to hourly from every 30 mins.
12/8 Calmore-Marwood-Southampton. Withdraw Sunday evenings.
H1/2 Hythe-Netley View. Reduced timetable. Withdraw Saturdays.
521 Hill Top-Hardley School. Withdraw owing to low usage (four passengers per day).

Eastleigh

C1/C2/C3 Eastleigh-Velmore-Chandler's Ford-Hiltingbury and Valley Park. Alternative 18/19 timetable, no longer serving Valley Park. Reduced from three buses per hour to hourly. Taxi share for Valley Park and parts of Hiltingbury two days a week.
E1/E2/E3 Eastleigh-Winchester. Reduce E1/E2 from half-hourly to hourly and divert to include Royal Hampshire County Hospital and Lower Stanmore. Withdraw E3 to Badger Farm.
F Eastleigh-Bishop's Waltham. Withdraw and replace with taxi share two days a week to Stoke Common.
17 Bishop’s Waltham to Petersfield. Reduce 17 from Mon to Sat to two days (Wed and Sat) only.
E2 Eastleigh-Chandler's Ford-Hiltingbury. Sunday and bank holiday service withdrawn.

Fareham & Gosport

26/18 Fareham-Hedge End-Whiteley-Locks Heath. Reduced timetable. Hospital service withdrawn.
33/35 Fareham-Stubbington. 35 withdrawn.
36 Lee-on-Solent-Fareham. Reductions in afternoon service.
80 Fareham-Sarisbury-Southampton. Reduced to one three-hourly service.
87 Gosport-Peel Common-Fareham. Service reductions in late afternoon.
88 Gosport-Stokes Bay-Fareham Mon-Sat evening services withdrawn.
94 Fareham-Knowle-Wickham. Withdraw last trip Mon-Fri and late trips on Saturdays.
38/138 Fareham-Waterlooville. Service to be withdrawn and replaced by a taxi share.

New Forest

X1/X2 Lymington-New Milton-Bournemouth. Withdraw evening and Sunday.
6 Lymington-Brockenhurst-Southampton. Mon-Sat reduce from every 30 mins to hourly.
44 Breamore-Woodgreen taxi-share to be retained (replaced bus withdrawn July 2011).
112 Lymington-Beaulieu-Hythe. Reduced to scholars and three day shopper services from six.
119 Lymington-Pennington. Revised route combined with No. 192. Hourly from every 30 mins.
191 New Milton-Chatsworth Park. Reduced from four trips each way to three.
192 New Milton-Barton-on-Sea. Largely withdrawn. 2/3 journeys each way retained for Becton
136/137 Ringwood-Poulner. Revised timetable. Discussions ongoing.
175/176 Ringwood-Bransgore-Christchurch. Reduced to scholars and three day shoppers from six.

Winchester

1 Winchester-Harestock-Stanmore. Earlier finish to Mon-Sat service approx 9pm/9.30pm.
2 Winchester-Oliver's Battery-Badger Farm. Commercial hourly service withdrawn. Three journey a day option being developed.
4 Winchester-Teg Down. Revised timetable to be provided commercially. The Spring Winchester-Kingsworthy. Sundays revised timetable to be provided commercially.
6A Abbot's Barton-Hyde-Winchester. Reduced from six days a week to five. 7 Winchester-Littleton-Sparsholt Withdraw 5pm service. Used by three passengers a day.
11 Winchester-Highcliffe. Mon-Sat service reduced to hourly from every 30 minutes.
46 Winchester-Valley Park-North Baddersley. Reduced to two-hourly and Mon to Fri only. Taxi share being developed for Chilworth and Upton Crescent.
67 Winchester-Alresford-Petersfield. Two-hourly from hourly.
63 Owslebury-Winchester. Reduced from six days to five, shoppers and scholars journey only.
69 Winchester-Bishops Waltham- Fareham. Withdrawn Sunday journeys.
86 Winchester-Springvale-Whitchurch. Withdrawn Friday/Saturday evening journeys.
95/96 Kempshott-East Stratton-Winchester. Withdrawn, no regular use.